The Earth Science Colloquium presents:
Addressing Climate Challenges to Agriculture and Water Quality in the New York City Watershed
Dr. Cynthia Rosenzweig, Senior Research Scientist at the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS)
Abstract
New York City’s water supply system collects and transports surface water from as far as 125 miles from New York City. The system is made up of over 2,000 square miles largely falling in two upstate watersheds – the Delaware and the Catskill – and supplies roughly 1.1 billion gallons per day (BGD) of drinking water. The Agricultural Model Intercomparison and Improvement Project (AgMIP) is collaborating with the Watershed Agricultural Council (WAC) and the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (NYC DEP), to provide model-based information on how to sustain the New York City water and food systems while also responding to climate impacts. The project supports the development of a climate action plan, assesses agricultural best management practice (BMP) performance under different climate scenarios, and develops new BMP prioritization through landscape modeling. This research will help assess whether or not current agricultural BMPs will be able to safeguard the city’s water supply effectively and aid New York City officials in anticipating and preparing for the impacts of climate change.
Host: Dr. Alexander de Sherbinin, Director, CIESIN, Columbia University.
The Earth Science Colloquium Series, sponsored by Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory and Columbia University Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences (DEES), provides a lively forum for discussing a wide variety of topics within the Earth sciences and related fields. Colloquia are attended by the full range of scientific and technical staff at LDEO. Colloquium attendance is required of all pre-orals DEES graduate students. The Colloquium Series supports the Lamont Seminar Diversity Initiative.
